Philanthropic Adventurers Complete Drive Around the World to Combat Parkinson's Disease

'LONGTITUDE Expedition' Covers 30 Countries and 41,000 miles in 16 Months to Raise Funds and Awareness

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 28 -- Take four Land Rovers, eight explorers, 30 countries and 41,000 miles, add a heavy dose of commitment, sprinkle with adventure and accompany with generous sponsors and supporters. The recipe yields hope for millions.

After almost 1 1/2 years of challenges and inspiring determination, the Drive Around the World LONGITUDE team completed its mission on February 28 where it all began, at The Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale, Calif., a Parkinson's disease research and treatment facility.

Even though seeing the world and sharing discoveries about other cultures is extremely rewarding, the central goal of the expedition revolved around a common bond: all eight members of the team have a relative battling Parkinson's. This 66,000-kilometer drive-a-thon was their way of making a difference.

"I realized we could either sit back, do nothing and accept the hand that we'd been dealt, or we could do something to try and make a difference," says Nick Baggarly, the expedition's leader, whose sister Jackie has been diagnosed with Parkinson's.

Land Rover and 60 other companies donated equipment and funds to help defray expedition costs and insure that 100% of money raised goes directly to the Parkinson's Institute.

"Drive Around the World was attracted to the Parkinson's Institute because it's involved not only in treatment, but research," said Baggarly. "To date, more than $65,000 has been raised, but donations are still being accepted."

The Drive Around the World team traveled in four 2003 Land Rover Certified Pre-Owned Discovery vehicles. A fifth Land Rover visited classrooms around the U.S. as part of the Expedition's education segment. It was specially outfitted with expedition gear and signed by celebrities, including "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, actor and Parkinson's activist Michael J. Fox and Academy Award-winning director James Cameron. This Land Rover will be raffled off in April in conjunction with the New York Auto Show. Individuals, who donate at least $10 to the Parkinson's Institute by visiting online at www.drivearoundtheworld.com/support, or by calling 408-542-5619, are entered into the raffle.

Pointing their vehicles south on Nov. 1, 2003, the Drive Around the World LONGITUDE Expedition team drove through Baja, Mexico, and Central and South America to arrive at the world's southernmost city of Ushuaia, Argentina. After being shipped by sea, they then drove west across Australia's Outback, north through Southeast Asia, across Burma and China, through India, and straight through Siberia.

They traversed 10 deserts; crossed the Panama Canal; climbed two volcanoes; visited the Nazca lines and the ancient city of Machu Picchu in Peru; circumnavigated Ayers Rock in Australia; skirted the world's largest lake, Lake Baikal in Russia; stood at the edge of the world in Tierra del Fuego; witnessed the burning of bodies in Varinassi, India; slipped through Bin Laden-friendly territory along Pakistan's Karakoram Highway; and camped on the beaches of Phuket, Thailand, now ravaged by the infamous Tsunami. Photos and journals can be viewed online at www.drivearoundtheworld.com.

The final leg of their journey, which began Jan. 31, took the team from frozen, but beautiful, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, down through the interior of the state, into Canada, and back home to northern California.

The team made new friends in each of these far-off places, many of whom even rode along as participants in what the organization refers to as the "Take Me With You!" program. Other encounters were a bit more brief, like the time they met the Dalai Lama at his home-of-exile in Dharmasala, India. His Holiness blessed the team and their journey and signed the hood of one of their vehicles.

At almost every stop on the adventure, the team met with Parkinson's researchers and patients. "I think we've brought hope to a lot of Parkinson's sufferers. And the doctors and scientists know, as we do, that a cure is within reach," said Baggarly. "We learned that people around the world are the same in the most basic human ways. They all want the same basic things for their families. They want peace, health, happiness and a bright future for their children."